Electro-magnetic relay arrangement

ABSTRACT

An electro-magnetic relay arrangement in which a pair of spaced electromagnets are supported on a base and a pair of associated armatures are pivoted relative to the electro-magnets about aligned axes. A rigid wire connects the two armatures to extend parallel to the axes and a pair of springs biasses the armatures away from the electro-magnets, said pair of springs extending between the base and portions of the rigid wire adjacent the respective armatures.

United States Patent [1 1 Thornley Aug. 14, 1973 ELECTRO-MAGNETIC RELAY ARRANGEMENT [75] Inventor: Derek Thornley, Nelson, England [73] Assignee: Joseph Lucas (Industries) Limited,

Birmingham, England [22] Filed: Mar. 1, 1972 [211 App]. No.: 230,625

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 5, 1971 Great Britain 6,209/71 [52] US. Cl. 335/274, 335/276 [51] Int. Cl. H01! 7/08 [58] Field of Search 335/266, 268, 274, 335/276 [5 6] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Germany 335/274 l,ll2,786 8/1961 Pn'margy Examiner-George Harris Attorney-Holman & Stem 57] ABSTRACT An electro-magnetic relay arrangement in which a pair of spaced electromagnets are supported on a base and a pair of associated armatures are pivoted relative to the electro-magnets about aligned axes. A rigid wire connects the two armatures to extend parallel to the axes and a pair of springs biasses the armatures away from the eIectro-magnets, said pair of springs extending between the base and portions of the rigid wire'adjacent the respective armatures.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,753,181

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f )2 I N/fi 0 Q 9 5 foil I I ELECTRO-MAGNETIC RELAY ARRANGEMENT This invention relates to arrangements of electromagnetic relays and has as an object to provide such an arrangement in a convenient form.

An electro-magnetic relay arrangement according to the invention comprises a support, a pair of electromagnets mounted on the support, a pair of armatures each mounted for pivotal movement about an axis towards and away from one of the electro-magnets, said axes being substantially aligned, and means for biassing said armatures away from the respective electromagnets, said biassing means comprising a member engaging said armatures and extending therebetween substantially parallel to said pivotal axes and a pair of springs in spaced relationship extending transversely of said member and engaging said member and said support.

An example of an arrangement according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the arrangement with parts removed for clarity,

FIG. 2 is a section on line 2--2 in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

The arrangement has an insulating base which provides a support for terminals 11 and for a pair of electro-magnetic relays 12, 13. Relays 12', 13 include coils 14 whose axes are in spaced parallel relationship and yokes l5, 16 upon which armatures 17, 18 are mounted for respective pivotal movement about aligned axes 19, 20.

Armatures l7, 18 respectively include overhung portions 21, 22. A member 23 in the form of a stiff wire extends between the portions 21, 22 and has downturned ends 23a, 23b which extend through holes in the respective portions 21, 22. Member 23 is formed, with a pair of crimped portions 24, 25 which lie in the plane of the axes of the end portions 23a, 23b. Portions 24, 25 are adjacent the respective armature portions 21, 22 and respectively define three locations for the ends of extension springs 26, 27, which have their other ends secured to the base 10. The ends of springs 26, 27 which engage member 23 are formed with loops so that the springs 26, 27 can be selectively engaged many of the locations provided by crimped portions 24, 25.

In use, springs 26, 27 serve to bias the armatures 17, 18 against a pull exerted by the electro-magnets 14. Since member 23 is free to pivot about the portions 21, 22 of armatures 17, 18, and also since the springs 26, 27 are closely adjacent the armatures 17, 18 downward movement of (say) armature portion 21 as seen in FIG. 2, does not cause a significant downward movement of crimped portion 25 associated with the other portion 22. The force applied by spring 27 to annature 18 is not, therefore, significantly altered. Spring 26 exerts very little force on armature 18, since member 23 is for this purpose acting as a second order lever.

Similarly, movement of either one of the armatures 17, 18 in either direction does not significantly affect the force applied to the other armature by the adjacent spring. The force applied by the springs 26, 27 to armatures 17, 18 is adjustable by altering the points of engagement of the springs with member 23.

I claim:

1. An electro-magnetic relay arrangement comprising a support, a pair of electro-magnets mounted on the support, a pair of armatures each mounted for pivotal movement about an axis towards and away from one of the electromagnets, said axes being substantially aligned, and means for biassing said armatures away from the respective electro-magnets, said biassing means comprising a member engaging said armatures and extending therebetween substantially parallel to said pivotal axes and a pair of springs in spaced relationship extending transversely of said member and engaging said member and said support.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member engaging said armatures is a substantially rigid wire.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wire is provided with a crimped portion adjacent each armature, each said crimped portion providing a plurality of locations for engagement of the respective spring.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wire is provided with turned ends which engage in apertures in the respective armatures and is pivotable relative thereto.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the apertures are provided in extensions of the armatures beyond the axes. 

1. An electro-magnetic relay arrangement comprising a support, a pair of electro-magnets mounted on the support, a pair of armatures each mounted for pivotal movement about an axis towards and away from one of the electromagnets, said axes being substantially aligned, and means for biassing said armatures away from the respective electro-magnets, said biassing means comprising a member engaging said armatures and extending therebetween substantially parallel to said pivotal axes and a pair of springs in spaced relationship extending transversely of said member and engaging said member and said support.
 2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the member engaging said armatures is a substantially rigid wire.
 3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wire is provided with a crimped portion adjacent each armature, each said crimped portion providing a plurality of locations for engagement of the respective spring.
 4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the wire is provided with turned ends which engage in apertures in the respective armatures and is pivotable relative thereto.
 5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the apertures are provided in extensions of the armatures beyond the axes. 